Process of producing viscose rayon yarn and fabric



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Patented Mar. 15, 1949 PROCESS F PRODUCING VISCOSE RAYO YARN AND FABRICf William B. Carden, Beauport East, Quebec, Canada, assignor of one-halfto Elizabeth M. Carden, Beauport East, Quebec, Canada ApplicationOctober 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,891

4 Claims. 1

nal strength of the filaments entering into the makeup of the strands ofthe fabric and to give the same added resistance to rupture or fatigueto which they are subjected by constant tire fiexing under conditions ofload and heat.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedimperviously sealed lubricated viscose rayon fabric.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved tirehaving incorporated therein multi-ply fabric layers which are extremelyresistant to fatigue or breakdown.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification andwhereinsimilar refer- 'ence characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views- Figure 1 is va diagrammatic representationof processing or treating steps wherein viscose rayon treatment startswith an individual filament- Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representationof steps in a process which includes' the improved treatment of cut,staple or spur viscose filaments.

At the outset, I am familiar with prior art processing of rayon strandswherein oils and lubricants have been used on the filaments or strandsto facilitate mechanical handling necessary for fabrication of the rayonyarn. The lubricant so used is removed by scouring or wiping in thefinished fabric. I am also familiar with a process of treating celluloseacetate rayon yarn with a so-called lubricant which, if used in treatingviscose rayon yarn, would defeat the purpose of rendering the fabricfatigue resistant. That is true because cellulose acetate rayon is madefrom treating viscose yarn, is a vegetable oil which is a non-penetrantand deposits merely a film of lubrication upon the filaments -andbetween the diamants forming the strands in the finished cord or yarn.Therefore, my lubricant. preferably olive oil, is of' a non-aqueousnature and this insures the retention of the original strength of thefilament and gives added resistance to fracture or fatigue in thefabric, wherever the fabric. is used', such as in the case of a rubbertire where such fabric is subjected to continuous flexing underconditions of load and temperature which sometimes are unusual. The useof a non-aqueous lubricant prevents sweliing'and absorption, and thusthere will be no weakening of the individual filaments or the yarns. Inother words, they preserve their original tensile strength and thelubricant has no deleterious effect whatsoever. This remains in thefilament throughout the life of the fabric because it is imperviouslysealed in a coating oi rubber or latex.

Referring to the diagrammatic processing steps outlined in Figure l ofthe drawing, the same are applicable to the treatment of viscose rayonwhere individual continuous filaments are used. from the filament stage.While` I do not wish to be limited to any particular weight or size Y*of the yarn, the strands for tire manufacture are each formed of 480filaments, 1100 denier. Thus, as shownin Figure 1, the step i0 consistsof assembling the continuous individualfllaments in a strand. They are4arranged parallel, and in step ii they are loosely twisted together inabout two or three turns or twists to the inch. The strands then passthrough a bath of lubricant at il; preferably a' trough placed in backof the rolls in the twisting machine. The lubricant coats the individualfilaments, since as above mentioned they are but loosely twisted.Thereafter, the lubricatedstrands are additionally twisted at I2,preferably vsubstantially 14 twists to the inch; the twist being in thesame direction as previously provided in step il. Thereafter in step I3a plurality of the strands are-placed together. With the weight and sizeof filaments above specified the number of strands used in step i3 ispreferably only two. 'I'hey are then drawn through a lubricating bath i4which thoroughly coats the individual strands of the mul- -tiple strandassembly, and thereafter at I5 these strands are additionally twisted,but in a direction opposite to the twists of the individual strandsaccomplished in steps Ii and. i2. This twisting in reverse totalssubstantially 12 twists or turns to the inch.

f Thereafter the yarns may be woven or otherwise formed into fabric. Thefabric formation may vary, preferably a few filler threads per inchbeing incorporated if the fabric is of a type adapted to be used in theformation of' rubber tires. After the fabric is formed it is entirelycoated with some impervious flexible material -such as rubber, rubberylatex or other plastic whichV may be applied in any of the usual ways,such as by frictioning. The fabric formation is designated at I8 inFigure 1 0f the drawing, and

ascuas the se ling coating step is indicated at I1. Thereafter ere is acutting step I8 wherein the fabric, if Intended to be used for tireformation. is cut in strips on the bias. The cut fabric at I9, for tireformation, is then arranged in layers within the carcass of the tire.

As before mentioned the vlubricant used in baths I I'l and Il ispreferably olive oil or some non-aqueous vegetable lubricant. It musthave" an aillnity for rubber or latex, or the coating used, to renderthe fabric impervious. The lubricant is not of a nature to bind theindividual filaments together, as would be the oase if some starchmaterial or glue was used, as has sometimes been suggested for thepurpose of giving yarn greater strength. With the lubricant suggestedherein the filament does not lose its inherent flexibility. Thus, thefinished yarn retains the resiliency Ynecessary for the .particularpurpose deiined herein, and obviously the proc,- essing of the viscoserayon through the sealing stage of the fabric will increase theresistance n to friction and fatigue over rayon fabric which is nottreated with a lubricant under the conditions specified. f

It is also a purpose of this invention to process viscose rayon fabricformed of cut, staple or spun filaments. Thus, referring to'Figure. 2 inthe initial processing step 25, the staple or spun filaments are tightlytwisted so as to hold their short lengths and form a thread. Four orfive of these threads are then assembled in a step 26 and sub sequentlyat 21 pass through a lubricating bath containing a lubricant such asabove mentioned (olive oil). This completely films the threads with oil.At 28 these assembled threads are then twisted into strands; thetwisting being reversed or opposed to the twisting of the individualthreads at 25. This enables the oil or lubricant to contact and coat theindividual filaments; that is, penetrate between the cut filaments. At29 two of the strands arranged at 28 are assembled, although more may beused if desired, and subsequently they pass through a lubricant bath 30similar to the bath I4. The process from there on, as indicated in thedrawing, follows the process for the viscose rayon individual filamentfabric as shown in Figure l.

In addition to the advantages above enumerated, the lubricationtreatment to which the rayon is subjected with the non-aqueous lubricantused naturally renders this fabric less impervious to moisture Aandhumidity than untreated fabric or yarn.

Baggy fabric or sagging sections across the width of the fabric is aconstant source of annoyance and waste after it is received at a rubbermili for processing. This will be eliminated. in my fabric.

Manufacturers using rayon fabric ordinarily place the rayon cord, whichis wound on spools or cones, through an electric heater or drier to setthe twist, so that the cord will be better balanced and less apt tokink. Thereby handling is facilitated in the beaming and weavingoperations. With my improved lubricated yarn the cordszare naturally setand the heating and drying processing will not be necessary. A

Lubrication of the yarns will also Vlubricate the rings on the twistingmechanism and' thus eliminate the necessity for supplying separate lubricant therefor.

While I prefer to use olive oil as the lubricant, cottonseed oil, soyabean oil and'peanut oil or 4 any vegetable oil not deleterious to thefilament or rayon yarn may be used.

Various changes inthe steps of the processes and methods hereindesignated may be made to the above description, and -the fabric may beinwhich consists in an initial assembly of viscose i rayon filaments,passing the same through a lubricating bath of a non-aqueous vegetableoil in such manner as to individually coat the filaments with thelubricant, subsequently twisting said filaments into strands withoutinterfering with the individual lubricating film coating of thefilaments, subsequently providing a plurality of said strands andcoating them by passing them through a lubricating bath of a non-aqueousvegetable oil, and subsequently twisting said assembled strands intoyarn without interfering with the individualillm coating of thefilaments and strands.

' 2. A process of producing viscose rayon yarn which consists inassembling individual viscose rayon filaments of a desired number toprovide a strand, very loosely twisting the filaments, subsequentlypassing said laments through a lubricating bath of non-penetrant oil tocoat them without impregnation, subsequently additionally twisting saidfilaments into strand formation,

4subsequently placing a number of said strands together and coating themby passing them through a lubricating bath of a non-penetrant oil, andsubsequently oppositely twisting said assembled strands to form yarn.

3. A process of manufacturing viscose rayon yarn which consists intaking a number 4of spun viscose rayon twisted threads, assembling aplurality of said twisted threads and passing them through a lubricatingbath of vegetable oil, subsequently twisting the thus assembled threadsin a direction opposite to the lament twist of the threads, thereafterproviding a multiple strand assembly of said strandsas previouslytwisted and then passing them through a filament coating lubricatingbath of vegetable oil, and then oppositely twisting said assembledstrands into yarn formation.

4. The process of producing viscose rayon fabric which consists in iihncoating viscose thread strands with a non-penetrant lubricating oil,providing of said strands a multiple strand assembly, film lubricatingsaid assembly with a non-penetrant oil, twisting the strands to formyarn, manipulating the yarn to provide fabric, and entirely coating saidfabric with exible impervious rubberto prevent lubricant dissipation.

' WILLIAM B. CARDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

Finlayson Dec. 5, 1944

